After a period of soothing, Allen Kris and Wilma Gladys finally calmed the little baby down.
Phew... the tall, thin Allen sighed in relief, straightened up, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, nodded apologetically to the guest, and took a few seconds to organize his words before saying:
"Sorry, all children are like this."
"Yes, of course," Klein responded with a smile, indicating that he didn't mind at all.
Then, he changed the subject and continued sharing what he had seen and heard in East and West Balam.
During this process, he again used his Beyonder power to plunge all the ordinary people in the living room into an illusion. Then, he picked up his unfinished ice cream, changed to a silver spoon, stood up with a smile, walked to the baby carriage, and asked gently:
"Will, want some?"
Without waiting for the chubby bundle wrapped in silver silk to respond, his voice grew even softer as he said:
"You've already been born, so you should be able to fold paper cranes by now. That way, I won't have to visit so often. As you know, it's likely to arouse suspicion."
Will Onsetin Kris glared at him and didn't answer.
Unfazed, Klein took a good quality white piece of paper from nearby and placed it in the baby carriage.
Then, he leaned down and scooped up a bit of ice cream with the silver spoon.
"All of fate's gifts are already priced in the shadows, aren't they?" Klein said with a low chuckle, moving the spoon in his hand.
Will in the carriage raised his left hand, wiped his tear-streaked face, and muttered:
"For a Beyonder on the Fate pathway, you first pay what's on the price list, and then you wait for the gift."
With that, the pudgy baby grabbed the white paper and, with difficulty, almost sobbing, began to fold a paper crane.
Klein stood before the carriage, keeping the spoon steady, and watched the scene with a smile.
...
A carriage set out from Pingster Street and headed toward Saint Samuel Church.
As it passed by the house at 160 Berkland Street, Leonard Mitchell looked out the window and said, as if to himself:
"Dwayne Dantès is back too."
Then, a slightly hoarse voice rang in his mind:
"Destinies will eventually converge."
"Old man, after waking up, you're more and more like a crack," Leonard couldn't help but tease.
Pallez Zoroaster let out a couple of laughs but didn't respond.
Upon arriving at Saint Samuel Church, Leonard was led by a priest into the study of the Chief Archbishop of Backlund, Saint Anthony.
Anthony Stevenson, wearing a black robe with red accents, had deep-set eyes and no beard. Standing in the shadow cast by the cabinet, he seemed like some unknown being gazing from the depths of darkness, instilling an inexplicable fear in people.
"Your Grace, you summoned me. What is it?" Leonard asked, bracing himself, as he gave a not-so-standard bow.
Anthony gently nodded and said:
"You have made enough contributions to apply for Sequence 5 Spirit Warden. However, your Eulogist potion hasn't been fully digested yet, so I've pulled you from the Soust team and will assign you tasks individually."
Leonard responded according to protocol:
"Your Grace, please go ahead."
Anthony picked up a stack of papers from his desk and said:
"These are all cases of suspected hauntings. You are to investigate each one, focusing on appeasing rather than exorcising. If you need assistance, you can select members from the Nighthawk teams in the affected areas."
"Yes, Your Grace." Even without Saint Anthony's orders, Leonard would have taken the initiative to do such things, so he had no objections to this assignment.
Taking the stack of papers, he casually flipped through them and asked:
"Your Grace, what is Captain Soust's team busy with?"
Although over the past six months or so, he had been focused on revenge, appearing aloof and closed off, and hadn't formed deep friendships with the members of the "Red Gloves" team, they were still comrades who had fought side by side and faced danger together, so he couldn't help but be concerned.
"They are assisting Creste with a mission," Anthony Stevenson replied without going into detail.
Sir Cezima is also in Backlund... Leonard didn't ask any more questions. He made the sign of the goddess on his chest, clockwise four times:
"May the Goddess bless everyone."
"Praise the Goddess," Anthony replied with the same gesture.
Leaving the archbishop's study, Leonard made his way down to the basement, intending to find a quiet room to list out the tasks he needed to do and mark their priority.
On the way, as he walked down the stairs, he subconsciously looked up at the tall stained glass window.
Sunlight streamed through it, making the colorful patterns appear even more solemn, and clearly revealing the dancing dust and tiny insects.
Seeing this, Leonard suddenly recalled the old man's description of Amon, and inexplicably had the illusion that the air was full of that "blasphemer."